Light accelerator or switch



Jul 19 1927.

y A. M. KELso LIGHT ACCELERATQR 0R SWITCH Filed Nov. 1o. i925 aa/nnnneccez.:

@neuneu ra'tentea July. 1 9, `1927.

MTlnsxT oFF-ICE.;

ALEX I. KELSO, VOfi' IUBPHYBBOBO, IILIHOIS.

uen'raccnnmwron on. swrrcn.

` appucaunn ma avvenne: 1o, ma. lsei-1n n. 00,135'.

This invention relates to improvements in 'electric switches and is moreparticularly adapted to a means -for accelerating the/ lights on a motorvehicle.

One of the important objects of the present invent-ion is to provide alight accelerator wherein the same includes a switch which is arrangedon the motor vehicle in such a manner as to enable the operator to haveaccess thereto at all times, whereby the headlights on a motor vehiclemay be readily and easily controlled so that the vdegree of illuminationor candle powerv of the-.light may be controlled.

vA further object 1s to provide a light accelerator or switch of theabove mentioned character which includes a pair of Stationarycontacts'mountedon an insulated body, one of the contacts controllingthe lightof the bright headlights, the other contact controlling thedimming of the lights, a slidable plunger having a contact formed on itslower end and normally in engagement with the first mentioned contact, afoot pedal being associated with the plunger for disengagingthe contactcarried thereby from engagement with the first mentioned contact inmoving the plunger and its contact into engagement with the additionalcontact arranged on the insulated body for e'ecting the dimming of thelights.

A still further object is t0 provide a light accelerator of theabovementioned character which is simple in construction, inexpensive, strongand durable and further well adapted to the purpose for which it isdesigned.. i'

Other objects and advantages of the in v eution will become apparentduring the course of the following description taken in connection withthe accompanying In the accompanying drawing forming part of thisapplication and in .whichl like numerals designate like parts Vhroughoutthe same: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the light 011 a motorvehicle and the wiring therefor, showing the light'l accelerator orswitch embodying lily invention associated therewith. A

Figure 2 is an enlarged verticalpsectional view through the switch, 'andFigure 3 is a bottom plan view thereof. In the'drawing, wherein for thepurpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of myinvention, my improved trated in Figure 3 of the drawing.

light accelerator .switch comprises a cylin- The cylindrical bodyisprovided with-the longitudinally extending bore 3,- and the same-issubstantially rectangularin cross section.

A cylindrical face plate 4is secured on the upper end of the cylindricalinsulated body 1 and is of greaterdiameter than the body. This plate islprovided with suitable openings 5 tol receive suitable fastening screwsor the like whereby the face plate will be secured on the floor board ofa motor vehicle within easy access of the operator, the cylindrical bodybeing disposed below-the floor board. -Tliis face plate is provided witha'v central opening 6 which is of a diameter greater than the diameterofthe bore 3 as is clearly illustrated in Figure 2, and the purpose ofthis construction will be presently apparent.

A stationary contact 7'is secured on the bottom of the insulatedcylindrical body 1 on one side of the bore 3, and the same is connectedto the headlights 8 through the medium of the wiring 9 whereby thelights may be caused to burn their brightest.,

An additional stationary contact 10 is secured on the'bottom of thecylindrical block or body 1 'at a point diametrically op-v posite thestationary contactV 7. This lastmentioned contact 10 includes a'downwardly extending and tapering strip 11, the Ysame being slightliybent so that in bottom plan, the free en portion of the strip 11 willcover the bore 3. This is more clearly illus- Thegstationary contact 10is also connecte to the headlights 8 by suitable Wiring illustrated at12 and associated with the circuit between this contact and theheadlights is the resistance coil 13.

Adapted forj'vertical slidable movement through the bore 3 of theinsulated block-or l .the rectmenr body or block.

ntially rectangplar in cross sec-V so that the plunger will not ro- A lI I i :upper end of the plunger rod plate 5. l

'The lower end of the plunger is disposed n The coil sprin 17 normallyholds the slidable plunger ro in its u permost position so that thecontact will Ibridge the'contact 7, and thus the circuit to the brightheadlights willbe closed. It is of course understood that the contact15v is connected to the source of electric energy shown at 18 throughthe medium of the wlring 19', a terminal 20 'of any Well knownconstruction being provided on the outer end of the lateral extensionwhich forms the contact 15 for securing one end of the wire to saidcontact. The usual hand switch 21 is connected with the i circuitleading from the storage batteryor any other suitable source of supplyto the contact 15 in the manner as clearly shown in diagram in Figure 1.

Whenever it is 'desired to dim the'li'ghts, the operator of the motorvehicle depresses the foot pedal 16 causing the slidable plunger rod tomove downwardly through the bore 3 of the insulated body or block 1,andY simultaneously the contact' 15 is moved out of en agement with thecontact 7 and is then broug t into engagement with the laterally`disposed portion 11 ofthe contact 10.' 1n

this manner, the lights may be readily and easily dimmed whenevernecessary and will not necessitate the manipulating of the usual handswitch mounted on the` instrument" xtension on the lower end of theboardfor controlling the switching of the lights from bright to dim. Itis of course to be understood that the operator can use the usual lightcontrolling switch for controlling the imming of the headlights withoutnecessarily having to operate a foot controlled light accelerator orswitch. Also if the driver wishesto leave'the lights on dini for anylength of time, he canturn the switch l 1,ese,5e7

,poses for -which it isdesigned.

Y While I have shown the preferred embodiment otmy invention, it is tobe understood that minor changes in the size, shape and arrangement ofparts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope ofthe invention.

Having thus described the invention, what 1 claim as new is:

4A switch of the class described compris-1 ing a block of insulatedmaterial having a longitudinal bore, astaticnary Contact secured on thebottom of the block on one side of the bore, a second stationary contactsecured on the bottom of the block on the Vother side of the bore at apoint diametrically opposite the first mentioned stationary contact,said second contact havin of spring mtal depending theregom vand beingslightly inclined downwardly in a direction toward the first mentionedcontact,

the free end, portion 'of the strip being disposed over the bore of theblock, a plunger adapted for vertical slidable movement through thebore, a lateral extension formed on the lower end of the lunger andproviding a contact adaptedp for cooperation with the aforementionedcontacts, a vfootl pedal on the upper end of the plunger, an expansiblecoil spring encirclin the upper f ortion of the lunger disposed etweenthe oot edal and) the u per end ofthe insulated lock for norma lyholding the lateral lun er in 'engagement with the first mentionestationary contact,l said lateral extension being adapted to be movedout of engagement wit the first mentioned stationary -contact and intoen a ment with the depending spring strip o t e second stationaryContact when the foot dal is depressed.

In testlmony whereof I ailix my signature ALEX M. KELSO.

a strip

